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Introduction

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Carbon unites with many elements to form a great variety of compounds that are found in such substances as coal, petroleum, fabrics, plastics, and rubber. Other carbon compounds include plant and animal tissues, sugars, proteins, starches, and cellulose. About 1 million carbon compounds are known. The substances that contain carbon are called organic compounds, and the science that deals with them is known as organic chemistry.

This name arose because chemists once thought that many of these compounds could be formed only by a vital force (a life process). This was disproved in 1828 when the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler converted the compound ammonium cyanate, NH4CNO, into urea (NH2)2CO.

Before this, urea had been known only as a product of life processes. Today chemists can make many of the products that formerly had been produced only by living plants and animals.

Carbon compounds exist in such number and variety because of the chemical properties of carbon. Carbon has four valence electrons that form covalent bonds. Since carbon is in Group IV A of the periodic table, it appears to be midway between the metals and nonmetals and has the ability to react with both types of elements. The structure of the carbon atom is unique among atoms, allowing a great array of compounds that are stable under normal atmospheric conditions and reactive in other situations (seecarbon; chemical elements; periodic table). Carbon reacts as follows:

1. Carbon atoms have the unusual property of combining with each other to form rings or long chains. No other element does so as extensively.

2. Carbon will combine with many different atoms or groups of atoms. This property, together with the ability to form long chains, makes carbon the most versatile of all elements in forming compounds.

3. Carbon forms many compounds that exist as isomers. Isomers are molecules with the same number and kinds of atoms, but in different arrangements—for example, CH3CHCI2 and CH2ClCH2Cl.

The Family of Hydrocarbons

The effects produced by these factors can be illustrated with the most simple organic compounds, called hydrocarbons—meaning compounds containing hydrogen and carbon only. This type of compound can be shown by molecular formulas, which state the kind and number of atoms in the compound, or by structural formulas. Structural formulas show the covalent bonds that hold the atoms together, with a short bar for each bond. In such a formula, each bar represents a pair of electrons; usually each atom concerned contributes one of the electrons in the bond, as follows:

Groups of atoms can also be combined by one or more covalent bonds. Such groups (sometimes called radicals) offer at their ends one or more covalent bonds for making compounds. Radicals from simple parent hydrocarbons are named by changing the ending of the name of the hydrocarbon from which they are derived, thus: methane, CH4 (the hydrocarbon); methyl, CH3 (the radical). The three simplest hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane) and the corresponding radicals or combining groups are shown, using each type of formula. These hydrocarbons differ from each other only in the number of H–C–H units in the chain. The series runs up to C60H122. Isomerism appears with the hydrocarbon butane (C4H10).

The number of isomers increases with the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. Butane has one isomer; pentane (C5H12) has two; and so on. The isomers for butane and pentane are shown, with their structural formulas. The formulas show that hydrocarbons of this type are “open chain” in structure and not closed chains, which would be called ring structures.

Hydrocarbons form many derivatives; that is, compounds in which the hydrogen atoms are replaced by other atoms or groups. Several methane derivatives at the left show such replacements. Isomers also form derivatives, thus adding to the host of compounds.

Hydrocarbons of the Benzene Type

Hydrocarbons of the open-chain type are found typically in petroleum. Coal tar is another important source of hydrocarbons; but most hydrocarbons from coal tar have the carbon arranged in rings rather than in chains. The rings usually have six carbon atoms. The simplest of these hydrocarbons is benzene (C6H6). The importance of benzene and benzene derivatives can be judged by listing a few with their uses in modern life:

Benzene—a powerful solvent; usable for motor fuel

Toluene—used to make explosives such as TNT

Aniline—an important material for dyes

Phenol (carbolic acid)—a strong antiseptic

Salicylic acid—basis of drugs such as aspirin

Hydroquinone—photographic developer

Chlorobenzene—used to make insecticides

Dodecylbenzene—used to make detergents

These compounds with ring structure are called aromatic compounds, whereas those with chain structure are called aliphatic compounds.

Compounds with Double and Triple Bonds

Aromatic compounds differ from many aliphatic hydrocarbons in the type of bonds which hold the molecules together. In a chain-structure molecule, such as methane, the carbon atom forms one bond (consisting of a shared pair of electrons) with each of four other atoms. In such situations, the carbon is said to be tetravalent. Since four is the largest number of atoms with which a carbon atom can join, such compounds are said to be saturated.

Benzene, however, has only six hydrogen atoms combined with six atoms of carbon. Each carbon atom therefore only uses one valence bond to hold a hydrogen atom. The other three bonds join with other carbon atoms to form the benzene ring, and every other bond between the carbon atoms must be double. To form this bond, the carbon atoms share two pairs of electrons, thus: C::C. A double bond can also be shown with two bars: C=C. A triple bond can be shown with three bars: C≡C.

Double bonds can occur in chain-type compounds as well as in those of the ring type. Compounds having such bonds are said to be unsaturated, because elements such as hydrogen, chlorine, and bromine can open the bonds and saturate the four carbon valences by adding atoms of these elements. Two unsaturated chain-type hydrogen carbons, ethylene and acetylene, are shown, together with the end results of saturating them with hydrogen atoms:

Classification of Carbon Compounds

The chemist has organized the study of compounds of carbon in much the same way he has organized the study of the elements; that is, by grouping them into families. He finds that all organic compounds can be grouped into a small number of families. Moreover, these families can be considered to be derivatives of the hydrocarbon methane (CH4).

Just as a family of elements in the periodic table has similar properties, so does a family of organic compounds. This similarity arises from the properties of some characteristic group in each family. In the examples shown, the characteristic group is attached to the group called methyl (CH3) in the alcohol, ketone, amine, and amide; with a hydrogen atom (H) in the aldehyde and acid. The ethyl groups (C2H5) are in the ether and ester. The characteristic group can react with the characteristic group of other compounds to form new compounds.

The organic chemist has learned how to use the properties of each characteristic group in making new compounds. Hence he can make many new derivatives of a given compound. He can design a formula, then make the compound that corresponds to that formula.

Many Kinds of Alcohols

Most people have heard of wood alcohol (CH3OH), called methyl alcohol or methanol; and grain alcohol (C2H5OH), called ethyl alcohol or ethanol. Such simple alcohols have a carbon chain with the characteristic hydroxyl (–OH) group at one end, and H or a hydrocarbon radical at the other end. Alcohols may have more than one OH group. Two examples of such alcohols are the following:

Ethylene glycol is called a dihydric alcohol, from the two OH groups. Glycerin is trihydric. Alcohols can also be of the branched-chain type, with hydrocarbon radicals at each side of the carbon chain instead of at one side, as in ethylene glycol or glycerin. An example is isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. It has the same molecular formula (C3H7OH) as normal propyl alcohol. (See alsoalcohol.)

Aldehydes, Ketones, and Ethers

Aldehydes are formed when alcohols are partially oxidized. The most familiar and simplest aldehyde is formaldehyde (HCHO), which is obtained mainly from the vapor-phase oxidation of methanol, or methyl alcohol. Formaldehyde is used as an embalming fluid, as an animal specimen preservative for biological work, as a disinfectant, and as an important raw material for the preparation of Bakelite and other plastics.

Ketones are formed when such branched-chain alcohols as isopropyl (CH3CHOHCH3) are partially oxidized. Removal of two hydrogen atoms leaves one carbon atom united by a double bond to one oxygen atom, as in an aldehyde. Acetone (CH3COCH3) is one of the best-known ketones. Ketones are highly reactive compounds, though they are less so than aldehydes. They are used primarily as solvents for lacquers.

Ethers may be formed from two molecules of an alcohol in this manner:

The sulfuric acid (H2SO4) removes a molecule of water (H2O), shown in color, and allows the C2H5 and C2H5O to join together, with –O– in the middle. Diethyl ether (C2H5OC2H5) is used as an anesthetic.

Two Types of Organic Acids

Organic acids are of two types. One has the COOH group (the carboxyl group). An example is acetic acid (CH3COOH), the acid in vinegar. It is made by oxidizing grain alcohol or by the fermentation of the fruit sugar in cider.

The other type has a phenol group, as in phenol (C6H5OH).

Each type appears in salicylic acid (OHC6H4COOH). Water solutions of each type are weakly acidic. The solutions can be neutralized with alkali; this forms salts of the organic acids.

Esters, Amines, and Amides

Ripe fruits—especially bananas, oranges, and pineapples—owe their odors to the presence of esters. Some common esters formed with acetic acid (CH3COOH) are found in the following list:

Amines are formed when a hydrogen atom is replaced with an NH2 group. Simple replacements appear in such examples as methylamine (CH3NH2), from the aliphatic hydrocarbon methane, and aniline (C6H5NH2), from the aromatic hydrocarbon benzene. Amides are formed when the –OH of the carboxyl group in an organic acid is replaced—for example, acetamide (CH3CONH2). Amines and amides are intermediates in forming other compounds. For example, aniline is a basis for many dyes (seedye).

Compounds with Double-acting Groups

These “family” groups enter into a tremendous variety of combinations in plant and animal life and in a host of other chemical processes. Many of the combinations are possible because many compounds have more than one family group. A good example is glycine.

Glycine is called an amino acid because it has both an acid group (COOH) and an amino group (NH2) which acts as a base. Each group can combine with its chemical opposite. Thus glycine can join end to end with itself and with other basic or acidic compounds (seeamino acids).

As shown by formulas earlier in the article, salicylic acid has a carboxyl group (COOH) and a hydroxyl group (OH). Either or both groups can join with compounds in forming drugs or other compounds.

Chemical Characteristic of Fats

Many such combinations are found in fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Fats are esters of glycerin and higher acids such as palmitic (C15H31COOH), oleic (C17H33COOH), and stearic (C17H35COOH). A typical molecule of fat shows in color what has been removed from the acid and the glycerin to form the ester, or fat:

Treating the ester with a base (such as sodium hydroxide, NaOH) restores the glycerin and adds three Na ions to the acid radicals, giving three molecules of soap (3C17H35COONa) (seesoap and detergent). Such a process occurs in the upper intestine in digesting fats. The digestion products then move into the bloodstream and are carried to the body cells to be resynthesized to body fats or to be oxidized, producing carbon dioxide, water, and energy. In the oxidation process, fat produces twice the energy of carbohydrates or protein.

Carbohydrates and Proteins

Photosynthesis in plants produces carbohydrates (sugars, starch, cellulose). Plant sugar (C6H12O6) is formed from carbon dioxide and water (seeplant). The molecular formula is the same for either of two simple sugars:

The total units H and OH are present in numbers sufficient to form six molecules of water (6H2O); hence the name carbohydrates, meaning “hydrate of carbon.” The molecules differ only in the position of the C=O unit. They both have several alcohol units, but glucose is an aldehyde and fructose is a ketone. If an OH is removed from one such molecule and an H from another, the molecules can join at the vacated bonds. The sugar sucrose (C12H22O11), used for sweetening food, is formed in this way. (See alsosugar.)

If 25 or 30 simple sugar units are joined, they form a molecule of starch (C6H10O5)x. A mass of 100 to 3,000 joined together is a molecule of cellulose (C6H10O5)y. (See alsostarch.)

The framework of all living cells and tissues is made of protein; and the many different kinds of protein are all made of amino acids linked together in long chains or large globules (seeprotein). The amino acids are linked, as already explained for glycine, by means of the acidic COOH and the basic NH2 radicals. Fats may also be included in cell tissue.

During digestion, proteins are broken down by enzymes into amino acids and other parts. These fragments are absorbed and recombined into body proteins as needed, or they may be oxidized to supply energy. (See alsodigestive system; enzymes.)

Helpful Vitamins and Drugs

Body cells have the ability to absorb the digested fats, proteins (amino acids), and carbohydrates (glucose) and convert them into parts of the cell to replace damaged or worn portions or to build additional cells. To do this work properly, the cells require help from catalysts, which they are unable to produce. These are called vitamins (seevitamins). The different vitamins act like keys in locks to conduct exchanges properly, regardless of changes in the supporting liquid caused by variations in food supply or bodily state of health or disease. (See alsoblood; respiratory system.).

Drugs likewise are helpful because they interact in definite chemical ways with tissues and the course of bodily processes. Because interactions are often so delicate, a slight variation in a drug molecule can have a profound effect upon its action. A good example of this is afforded by the group of sulfa drugs that are derived from the original sulfanilamide as follows:

Each sulfa at the right and left is made by substituting its chain for the H marked with an arrow in the parent drug, sulfanilamide.

Synthetics—Fibers, Plastics, and Rubber

Organic chemists have learned to produce a host of valuable synthetic substances. Generally the chemist selects a suitable molecule or molecules with double-acting properties and unites (polymerizes) them into a network of very large molecules called polymers. Polymers consist of large chains that separate when enough heat is supplied so that they slip apart. When cooled, they become firmly entangled again. Among the products made from polymers are synthetic fibers: rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic, and acetate (seefibers, man-made). Substances called plastics are shaped into objects using a variety of processes. There are two major groups of plastics—thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins (seeplastics). Synthetic rubbers can be toughened by a process called vulcanization (seerubber, natural and synthetic).

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